Jim Taylor
Round Two with the barrel full of bullets
Monday, March 25, 2019, 11:45

I decided to try some of ya'lls advice and see if I could get the bullets out of the bore.

First I heated the barrel to about 500 degrees and tried driving them out. Nothing moved.

So I drilled a 1/8" hole as deep as I could and then stuck the barrel into the lead pot.

Hammering the heated, melted bullets did not accomplish anything except a burned thumb.

So I stuck the barrel in the vise between a couple oak boards, screwed in a deck screw and using a large nail puller and a big hammer managed to pull the muzzle bullet out.

Turned out to be a 200 gr. jacketed rifle bullet. When I drilled the hole I got a huge amount of jacket material out so I figure they were not plated bullets.

Turned out to be 2 of the rifle bullets and one apparently 158 gr. pistol bullet.

I had an awful time getting the last 2 out. Filled the bore full of oil and let it soak awhile. That helped once things started moving.

The Bad News: There is a 3/4" long bulge in the middle of the barrel. Not apparent from the outside unless you lay a straight edge on the barrel. Must have been when the second shot was fired.

AND .. I managed to scarf the rifling at the muzzle when the screw bent while I was hammer on it. I could cut that off and recrown the muzzle but with the bulged bore my option is still a new barrel.

But it was an interesting day.